Combination table and chair



Feb. 26, 1935i. E. KosANEK- 1,992,434 i COMBINATION TABLE AND CHAIRFiled Nov. 10.- 195s 2 sham-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

AToRNEY.

Feb.26,1935. y l E, KQSANEK 1,992,434

COMBINATION TABLE AND CHAIR Filed Nov. l0; 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Ernes Kosawek BY www ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. '26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present`invention relates to a table and a combination of chairs therewith,lthe chairs being mounted on the table so as to be readily removabletherefrom, whereby the chairs may be 'f5 placed around the table for usetherewith, the

table and the chairs each being preferably foldable although in thebroad aspect of the invention the` table is not necessarily foldable butit is preferred to be.

An object of the present invention is to provide upon the underside ofthe top of the table means `for securing a folded chair removablythereto, such means being preferably independent of the legs of thetable so that the chair may be readily removed and unfolded for use ormay be again folded and` removably secured to the underside of the tabletop by means independent of the legs of the table, such means beingparticularly useful when repeated at a plurality of locations under thetop of the table, so that a plurality of folded chairs may be secured inposition independently the one of the other, enabling any one chair tobe removed without disturbing any part of the table proper or the otherchairs, or all of the chairs may be independently removed. A furtherobject of the invention `is to provide independent means such asreferred `to which will engage portions of the chair from opposite sidesof its seat, thereby securely holding the chair in position for removal.

A specificobject of the invention is to provide a table which has arectangular top with means for securing upon the underside thereof aplurality of folded chairs for independent rei moval, such securingmeans being repeated in each of the four quarters of the top of thetable, for separately removably supporting `a folded chair at eachquarter of the top.

A specific object of the securing means is to provide it on the one handwith a stationary securing member for a folded chair and on the otherhand with a spring actuated keeper to cooperate with the stationarymember in the engagement of different parts of the folded chair wherebyto conveniently andreliably hold the chair in position, enabling it tobe removed by the mere retraction of the spring actuated keeper.

' Another specific object is to provide a spring actuated keeper, suchas referred to, with means for automatically raising the folded chairaway from the top of a table when the keeper is released from the chair.

Another specific object is to provide such `a keeper with means wherebyit will be caused to be automatically retracted by the engagement of afolded chair therewith and then automatically lock the chair removablyto a table.

vA most desirable specific object of the pres- 5 ent invention is toprovide interengaging means between a plurality of folded chairs and thetop `of the table for positively preventing the shifting of one chairtoward another, whereby each chair is definitely held'individually atits selected location.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a specifically improvedfolded table and a folding chair which are peculiarly adapted for acombination with each other in order to support the chairon the table.

These being among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsists of certain features of construction andV combinations of partsto be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a desirable embodiment` oftheinvention and wherein Fig. l is an underside plan of a folded table andfolded chairs `supported upon the underside thereof for independentremoval;

Fig. 2 is a similar view enlarged to illustrate but one quarter` of theunderside of a table top and a folded chair secured thereto, the rest`of the top being broken away for such purpose; 30

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-`3,1Fig. 2, parts being in elevation;v

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, as viewed in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an underside view of a folded chair, inasmuch las Figs. 1 and2 show the upper side of said chair; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view` of a chairaccording to the preferredconstruction and shown in using position, a portion of the table beingalso 40 shown.

Referring `to Figs.` 1 to 4 inclusive a folded table is illustrated thesame preferably being constructed with a rectangular metal frame 10 forthe table top. Frame sections 11 and 12 are preferablycomposedofanglemetal suitably constructed and arranged forl composing the frame 10. Theframe section 11 is formed with a bead 13 and an inset flange 14,together with a lip 15, the frame section l2 being secured in the inner50 corner of the frame section 11 in such way that the inset flange 14rests upon the adjacent flange of the frame section 12, while the lip 15is bent aroundonto the inner surface of the other flange` of the framesection 12. Rivets 16 assist in hold- 55 preferably sheet 'ii'netal croably stationary vsecuring imeans.

ing the two frame sections in close relation, although they do not needto be used for that purpose.

The drawings do not illustrate an unfolded folding table as that is notnecessary for understanding the invention, but it will be understoodthat when the table is in using position the bead or rim 13 and theinset flange 14 will be at the top of the table. A sheet 17 of suitablematerial may be set 'upon the ange 14 and Within 'the surrounding bead13 so that the upper surface of the sheet will be substantially flushwith the upper edge of the bead 13, such top proper 17 being preferablycemented or otherwise-secured in position. It is obviousthat the sheet17 forni'ing'the top proper may be covered by a cloth. Preferably metalstrips 18 are secured cross-wise of the underside of the table top 17,they extending 't'o the vertical i'ianges of the angle metal iframe 10Whereto they may be riveted or otherwise rigidly secured. These 'strips18 reinforce and give additional support for -the't'ableftop properv1-7.

The legs v19 `of the'tab'le are preferablyifldable against the -table"top, Ato which yend sheet metal brackets 20 are 'secured by the rivetsvlo' inthe inner corners of Vtherectangular frame 19, and pivot pins 21pass therethrough and ythrough the adjacent inner'ends of the legs 19.The legs 19 'may 'be made of sheet metal and have brackets '-22'rig'idlyatt'aoliedto theininn'er ends, through which brackets the pivot pins 21also pass, but

theconstruetinof the legs may ofcourse be 'varied in this connection.Acrossfthe `approximate mid-width of -the'table topther'e are two `ss`pieces `23, '24 of angular cross-section, vtwo flanges Af each feX-tending in opposite directions 'and their ends being'securedv'permanently as by rivets or otherwise in the inner angles ofthe'sheet'inetalffrarne 10` of the table top, the'other na'nges Sof suchcross. pieces in'nornial 'using-position lof the table extendingdownwardly adjaoenteaoh 'other as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

`Means are provided upon the' 'underside'of l the table top for holdingand locking separately in position, preferably'independently"of thelegs-'of the"l table,` a vplurality offfolded chairs. Such securing'means are preferably constructed' and 'arranged soy astoco'operatevvith"'differenti parts of a folded chairisoas to hold; it'in' a 'secure position from lwhich 'itl can -be removed, the y'securingmeans being to that end provided-inf" two sets-or units,` oneset beingpreferably stationaryon the underside* ofthe tableltop and the'otherfset or securing device'being preferably `movable so as yto' bereadily' engaged with"a"chair' and hold it against the stationarysecuring device. 'Preferablyl to this end suitablybent sheet metal`hooks 25, 26 'are employedI for constituting the prefer- Thehooks `f2.5are riveted, welded or otherwise rigidly secured n 'to the verticalflange of thecross'fpiece 23 and in the same manner the hooks/26- aresecured to the vertical flange of the cross-piece 24, so that when Vthetable is in using position the hooks will deh-pend'with their beaks`or-inturned portions'exn tending upwardly, thereby providing recesses`for engagement by certain parts of the folded chair to be hereinafter'explained. The hooks 25 or 26 are preferably arranged in pairs forengagevment with opposite side portions of the folded chair.

:The otherme'mber'of the seouring-meanspreferably ,resides ina'keeper orlatch=27 which is Y positioned in suitably spaced vrelationto 'each pairof hooks for a chair and which is located on a line about midway of thehooks of each pair. In other words, the keeper 27 and the pair of hookswith which it cooperates are arranged in substantially triangularformation. Each keeper 27 depends from the top of the table when thetable is in using position, although in the drawings the table is shownin inverted position. Each keeper 27 is mounted to swing on a pivot 28which connects ears 3()a of the keeper and ears 80 of a bracket 29 whichis rigidly secured to the end of each reinforcing strip 18. Each bracket29 may be welded to its support or otherwise secured. Springs 31 arecoiled around the pivots 28 and each spring is in engagement with anapvpropriate part of the table and the corresponding keeper 27 so thatthe spring acts to return the keeper to Vnormal position automaticallyand itpermits'the keeper to be depressed or released from a chair.

Preferably each keeper 217 fis especially liconstructed and it 'maybernade up of a'strpoffbent 'up sheet metal. Each'keeper'tis providedwitha projecting nger abutment y32 .'for engagement by ones fingers inorderto release `thefkeeperit l.

is also y.provided with a retaining nose 33 which is inclined inwardlyat'its outertsurface;tand'the lkeeper-is also provided'with aliftingtoe`34:. The

keeper is retracted `by the engagement of the projecting finger abutmentV32.

Itfwill benoted that theretaining nose :33 isflocatedtozonefside of thepivot of the keeper, while the lifting toe 34 is located to theotherfside'of the pivot,:the space betweenthelifting toefl andthenose-BS providing a recess in whichA a corresponding-portion of 'afolded chairrmay bereceived. Y

The preferred construction fand arrangement whereby a plurality `offolded chairs-such as 35, shown in'Fig. 1, is secured to the table,-willnow be described.

Each folded chair 35 when'removablysecured `to a rectangular tableV ispreferably located-in each quarter of the area of the tabletop, that isas the top has four quarters, fourfolded1 chairs Will be securedremovably thereto, in-fsuch-manner that each 'is secured'and removableIindependently of any otherchairfand preferably entirely independently ofthelegs of the table. By reason whereby` thethiokness of suchycombinationaneed not be greater than the-vertical thicknesspfethe frame10 itself, whilethevchairs-.fmayfbe'quickly mounted on the table.Adierent numbervfof folded chairs may of course be secured independentlyin positionfin much.theesame-mannerfand the form of thetopoftheftablemay also'be-dif- -fferent instead of being rectangular.

ferred form thereof, the same isl'speoifcallyldefined as comprisingqatablehavinga rectangular legs'19 when they are top and a' downward edge`flange. 10 extending around the top,v legs 19 pivotally mounted withinthe four corners of the flange to fold in at right angles to each other,each pivotal connection 21 preferably residing solely in a single pivot,located close up within a corner, to leave a maximum area at theunderside of the top corresponding in size with the entire space betweenthe thus pivoted folded in,` and which area is free from obstruction byany movable parts of the legs, together with a set of securing meansentirely independent of the legs andupon the underside of the top, inone quarter of such maximum area, for detachably engaging different,preferably opposite, edges of a removable folded chair such as chair 35,and supporting it in such quarter, such set including a dependingsecuring device 27 located closely in lateral juxtaposition to anadjacent infolded leg 19 and also a depending securing device 25separate and remote therefrom, and such securing means 27, 25 beingrepeated in corresponding sets in the fourquarters of such area, ofwhich repeated securing means the remote securing devices 25 arepreferably arranged in slightly spaced relation from each other as shownat opposite sidesof and in juxtaposition to a diameter of therectangular top to provide sucha set in each of the four quarters ofthetop defined by such diameter and the intersecting diameter of thetop, for separately removably supporting such a chair 35 between suchsecuring devices 27, 25 in each quarter of such area, whereby eachquarter of such area, except for the slight spaces occupied by thesecuring devices 27, 25 therein, is adapted to be fully occupied by afolded chair and four` chairs may be separately supported independentlyin such maximum area of the tcp, and may be supported free Yfrom andindependent of the legs 19 in closely assembled edgewise relation in allof such four quarters. Y

Referring more particularlyto Figs. and 6 the preferred construction offolding chair will now be described, Fig. 5 being an underside view ofthe folded chair. An angle metal frame 36 for the seat of the chair isprovided on which U-shaped members 37, 38, preferably of metal tubing,are mounted by means of pivots 39 upon opposite ysides of the frame soas to provide supporting legs or the like for the` chair. The legmembers 37, 38 extend into the inner corners of the seat frame 36, thepivots 39 being provided by the ends of bars 40 permanently secured toopposite sides of the frame 36. In this manner a simple and strongconstruction is provided for the mounting of the leg members, andthe`leg members may be folded inwardly one on top of the other within theverticalfflange of the seat frame 36. Preferably the leg members 37, 38may be firmly united together by means of the break-joint braces 41 whenthe chair is adjusted to unfolded position for use. In Figs. 4 and 5 thebraces 41 are shown as folded, inasmuch as the chair is here shown inits folded condition.

The leg member 37 of the chair is provided with inwardly projecting pins41a and the braces 4l are connected with the leg member 38 by pivot pins41h. The braces are each formed in two pieces which are connectedtogether by pivot pins 41c, so that the braces may be folded together orstraightened out. When straightened out a hook 41d on one of the piecesof each brace engages with the other piece in a stopping positionwhereby the braces may be held stiff, and then notches 41e in the freeends of the outer the back against pieces of the braces are caused toreceive the pins or studs 41a by moving the braces to such position thatthe notches will receive the pins 41a.` Then the leg-members 37, 38willbe held firmly in their `supporting position.

A back 42 is preferably provided and which may be composed of metaltubing bent into theshape of a U-shaped frame Vhaving attened angulardeflected end portions 43. Bracket plates 44` are firmly riveted orotherwise secured to opposite sides of the rear portions ofthe verticalflanges of the angle metal frame 36, suchiplates having upwardlyextending members 45, that is projecting portions which extend above theframe 36 ad jacent its rear edge. wardly extending members 45 and thedeflected end portions 43 of the back 42 sothat the back is pivotallymounted. The pivots 46 are located Pivots 46 connect the up` forwardly:of stops 47 which are located above the seat frame 36, and when theback42 is raised the `elbows `or lower ends of the back will abut againstthe stops 47 thereby rigidly` supporting further movement away from theseat frame. Preferably the stops 47 are in the form of lugs bentinwardly from the members 45 of the brackets, along the rear edge of theseat frame sov as to extend a suitable distance upwardly therefrom. Asshown, each member 45 and `the corresponding stop 47 are bent up fromangle metal. When the back 42 is `moved down against the seat frame36and the legs are also folded in, the chair will be in a compact foldedcondition, and is well adapted for removable securement to the top ofthe table.

Again referring to Figs. 1` to 4 inclusive, a folded chair such as 35,Fig. 1, first has its back stops 47 engaged under the beaks ory 4withinthe recesses of the hooksy 25, 26 and then the front portionof the seatfram-e 36 is pressed against the inclined nose 33 of keeper 27, wherebythe keeper is pressed `backout of the way, and when the folded chair is"in position the nose 33 will automatically' latch the folded chair inposition. In this position thevfolded chair will rest upon the liftingtoe 34 ,ofA the keeper, and whenit'is desired to release a chair fromits locked posi,- tion, the keeper is retracted throughthe medium of thefinger abutment 32, thereby causing the lifting toe 34 to raise thefolded chaira suitable distance by swinging it upwardly upon theconnectionprovided between the,` hook and the back-stops 47, and thenthe latter maybe released from the hook 25 and' the folded chairremoved, so that the table may then be erected for use vand likewise thefolded chair or chairs which ,have` been removed from the table. It isonly necessary to employ one keeper 27 foreach folded chair, but it ispreferred to employ two back stops on` the chair to cooperate with twohooks 25 or 26, as the. case may be, and thereby the keeper may belocated on a line between the hooks of each pair. When properly securedin its folded condition upon the bottom of the table top each chair ispositively held in its secured position for ready removal, and the chaircan neither shift in one direction or the other cross-wise thereof. Thisis because of the back stops 47 being not only engaged in the recessesof the hooks 25, but the inner faces of the members 45 will be almost ifnot in actual engagement with the outermost edges of the pair of hooks.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to modification without departingfrom the scope of the appended claims. j

VWhat `I claim asnew ia- V .1. The combination with a .table having arectangular top and a downward edge flange exF Vtending around thetopyand legs pivotally mounted within the four corners of the ange tofold free from obstruction by any `movable parts of the legs, of a setof `securing means entirely independent of the legs .and upon theunderside of the top, in one quarter of Vsuch maximum area, fordetachably engaging opposite edgesof a remo-vable folded .chair andsupporting it in such'quarter, such set including a depending' securingdevice located closely in later-al juxtaposition to an adjacent infoldedlegand valso a depending securing device lseparate and remote therefrom,and such vsecuring means being repeated in corresponding sets in thefour quarters .of such area, of which repeated securing means the remotesecuring `devices are arranged in slightly spaced relation from eachother at opposite sides of and in juxtaposition to a diam eter of therectangular top to provide such a set in each ofthe four quarters of thetop dened by .such diameter and the intersecting diameter of the top,for separately removably supporting suchachair between such securingdevices in each quarter vof sucharea, whereby eachquarter Aof sucharea7` except for the pied by the securing devices therein, is adaptedto be fully occupied by a folded chair and four chairs may be separatelysupported independently in such maximum area of the top, and may 'besupported free from and independent of the legs in closely assemblededgewise relation in all such 'four quarters.

:2. The combination `with a table having a rectangular top and adownward edge flange extending around the top, and legs' pivotallymounted nection residing solely in a single `pivot located close up"within a corner, to: leavea maximum area at the underside o1 thetopcorresponding in size `with the entire space between the thus pivotedlegs `when they are folded in, and which area is free from obstructionby any movable parts-.of the legs, of a set of securing means entirelyindependent of the legs and upon the underside of the top, in onequarter of such maximum area, for detachably engaging different edges ofa removable folded chair and supporting it in such quarter, such setincluding a depending securing device located closely in lateraljuxtaposition to an adjacent linfolded leg and also a depending securingdevice separate and remote therefrom; and located 01T to anotherside ofsuch quarter than that side at which such laterally disposedsecuringdevice is located, and such securing means spending sets in the fourquarters of such areaof which repeated securing devices the remotesecuring devices are arranged in spaced relation from each other atopposite sides of a diameter of the rectangular top to provide such aset in each ofthe four quarters of the top deiined by 4such diameter andthe intersecting diameter of the top, for separately removablysupporting such a chair between such securing devices in each quarter ofsuch area, whereby each quarter of such area, except for the slightspaces occupied by the securing devices therein, is adapted to be fullyoccupied by a folded chair and four chairs may be separately supportedindependently in such maximum area of the top, and'may be supported freefrom and independent of the legs in closely assembled edgewise relationin all such four quarters.

3. In `a table, atop provided with foldable legs, separate supportingmeans mounted on the underside of the top for engaging for removal asimilar ,article at a number of a part of the chair, and such othersupporting means being in the form of stationaryhooks .arranged nopposition to the keeper, andthe beaks outer yend with a projecting ngerabutment for overcoming .the-spring action and with a lifting toe at itsinner end for automatically moving the chair away from such side whenthe keeper is positively operated by the finger abutment to release itrfrom the chair.

ERNEST KOSANEK.

being repeated in corre-

